DiCLAiMER - I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender! Be cool if I did, though.
Yeah, the characters are a little OOC, but it's fan fiction, right?
Dear Zuko
It's been a while since we've seen you, did you get lost? I hope my directions weren't too confusing. Oh Gods, I miss you. The next time you capture us (which I will make sure of), we need to spend some quality time together. Oh, and you can kick Sokka a few times for me. He's really getting on my nerves lately!
I think the only thing keeping me going is your letters. In your last one, you sounded a little stressed. Ask Iroh to make you some tea. Have you told him about us yet? You know he will be nothing short of delighted, don't you? But Aang and Sokka, I don't know ... Sokka would try to murder you.
I miss you so much! I miss your voice, your laugh, your eyes and most of all, your smile. When are you going to let me heal your scar, Zu Zu? You know I would love you even if you looked like Appa, but seriously, you would be blindingly handsome. Well, even more than you are now.
Sorry, I have to go, Aang is waking up. (I'm writing this early in the morning). I'm sending this with a different bird, because the one you sent is half dead from the journey. Surely you can't be that far away?
My heart is always yours,
Katara
"Katara, what are you doing?" asked the bleary eyed Avatar.
"Oh, nothing," said Katara, hastily putting the letter away. "Just writing poems."
"Oh, okay," said Aang, stumbling around the previous nights smouldering fire. "Did you make any breakfast yet?" His stomach rumbled.
"No! I, uh, I'll go get some now," said Katara, glad for an excuse to send the letter in private.
Aang stared at her retreating form, wondering where she was going, because they had just stocked up on supplies recently, and they had a bag full of juicy meat, just waiting to be cooked.
Dear Katara,
We had to stop for a few days to repair the engine, that's why you haven't seen us for a while. I'm planning to head towards the island of Kyoshi, will you be heading that way?
When I capture you again, I'll do more than kick that mongrel brother of yours. He should be more responsible about the way he acts towards his younger sister. Oh, I'll show him a thing or two. And if he dared try to murder me, I think you know who would come out best in that fight.
I've told you before, I'll tell Uncle when I'm ready. Maybe in a decade or so.
My sweet Tara, I miss you too! Do you know how much I love you? All the way to the moon and back, a million times. What I miss most about you, is your eyes, the way they seem to pierce into my very soul. They make me want to melt ...
Katara, if you healed my scar, people would ask questions. Everyone would find out about us. Do want your brother in jail for attempted murder? I would not be so sad, but for you, I'll be anything.
I must go. That stupid bird you sent is trying to rip my clothes off. Did you tell it to do this?
You don't need a bird to get my clothes off for you Katara, surely you know that?
Always burning for you,
Zuko
"Ahh!" yelled Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, as he ran around his room, trying to shake off the brightly coloured bird, which was now trying to peck his eyes out. "Get away from me, you insolent feather-brained creature!"
There was a knock at the door. "Prince Zuko! Why are you yelling?" asked the mature voice of his Uncle Iroh, slightly muffled from behind the door.
Zuko sent a burst of fire towards the bird, which singed its tail. The bird screeched in dismay, it's beautiful tail was ruined! This long haired human would pay for his insolence! The bird continued to attack Zuko, but with more ferocity than before.
"I'm, just, uh, practicing my vocals!" shouted Zuko, trying to protect the good side of his face. "You know, like, if I got captured, and you couldn't find me! I need to make sure you will be able to hear me!" The bird screeched again, and started to dive bomb the 'long haired human'.
Iroh was taken aback. Prince Zuko admitting that it was a possibility that he could get captured? Something was seriously wrong here. He pounded on the door.
"Prince Zuko!" yelled Iroh. "Open up this door right now!"
Zuko tried to fend off the bird again, but his attempts proved in vain. Again. He ran to the door and yanked it open with one hand, while his other one was shooting fire at the bird.
Iroh saw the letter lying on Zuko's bed, he saw the bird dive bombing his nephew, and then he saw the look on Prince Zuko's face, which made him thank the gods he wasn't born a messenger bird who got Zuko's bad side.
Uncle Iroh coaxed the bird away from Zuko with a biscuit from his sleeve, and held it gently but firmly with both hands.
"Zuko," said Iroh, as though he was stating something.
Prince Zuko looked up. He had been nursing his badly bitten and scratched hands.
"Uncle, I know this is strange but - HEY! DON'T TOUCH THAT!" he bellowed, as Iroh had just reached for the letter. Zuko made to stop him, but the bird shuffled it's wings menacingly, and Zuko took half a step back. Iroh's hand froze above the letter.
"Uncle, that's private," said Zuko warningly.
"Zuko, you shouldn't hide things from your dear old Uncle," said Iroh, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Especially not about secret relationships."
Zuko's eyes widened. He hadn't even read the letter! How could he know?
He swallowed, then said, "How did you know?"
"I didn't. You just confirmed my suspicions, young prince," said Iroh, now smiling from ear to ear.
Zuko mentally kicked himself. How could he have fallen for that? It was the oldest trick in the book! Well, I hope you're happy Katara, he thought. Iroh knows about us now. It'll all over the Firelands by next Tuesday.
"So, since I know now," said the retired General, still grinning, "Would you do me the curtesy of telling me who it is?"
Zuko almost jumped for joy. He had forgotten! Uncle didn't know who it was! He make up any random girl, and he'd believe him!
"Uh, her name is Symai," said Zuko, heating his face to make himself blush. "She lives in the city, back at home." He winced, the memories of home still hurt.
"Ahh," said Iroh. "Well, I believe this bird is ready to let you tell it who to go to, so I'll leave you to it."
So Iroh left the room, and shut the door behind him. He walked down the passage, but then quickly retraced his steps quietly, and was just intime to hear Prince Zuko tell the bird, "Katara", and directions to where she was.
Iroh then walked up on deck, and felt the sea breeze ruffle his grey hair, thinking about how young love could spring up anywhere, when you least expected it.
